Safety transfer-cable reel and trolley-pole switch



W. T. JONES.

SAFETY TRANSFER CABLE REEL AND TROLLEY POLE SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.16, 1921.

1,408,601. Patented Mar- 7,1922.

14 Tfones UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAMTHOS. JONES, OFPANTHER, wnsr VIRGINIA.

Application filed November 16, 1921.

with a gathering locomotive for a mine, and

it is an object of'the invention to provide novel and 1mprovcd means' whereby the trolley pole, when lowered into an inoperative position, serves to make an electrical connection between the controller of the locomotive and thec'ableor conductor associated with the reel.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved mechanism of this general character whereby the cable or conductor associated with the reel of the gathering locomotive is placed in electrical connection with-the controller of the locomotive when thetrolley pole is moved into an inoperative position with respect to the trolley wire, together with means for housing such connection witlrthetrolley pole so that an occupant of the locomotive is protected against shock.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved. safety transfer cable reel and trolley pole switch whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, aswillbe hereinafter more fully set forth The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a view in elevation illustrating a safety transfer cable reel and trolley pole switch constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention, said figure being of a somewhat diagrammatic characts;

Specification of Letters Patent.

Serial No. 515,575.

tact member, an associated trolley wheel being indicated in fragment;

Figure 4- is a view in top plan of the stationary contact member; and

Figure 5 is a view in side elevation of a clip for use to place the cable reel orconductor in electrical connection with the stationary contact I member.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, L denotes a gathering locomotive 01 a conventional type-and which includes the controller (l' whereby the travel of the locomotive is regulated. The locomotive L is provided with the trolleypole 1: having a wheel adapted to coact in a conventional manner with the trolley wire T. The wheel is in electrical connection with the: controller C in a conventional manner through the instrumentality ofithe conductor a.

Suitably secured to the locomotiveL,pre:t-

erably adjacent the rear thereof, is an up,

standing member 1 having its upper portion provided with the diverging 'arn1s 2 terminating in the vertically disposed extentions 3 arranged iii-parallelism. Each of the extensions 3 is continued by a returned portion 41 substantially in parallelism with'the adjacent extension 8.

M denotes an elongated stationary contact member substantially V-shaped in'lori'n in cross section throughout the major portion of its length with its opposite end portions flattened, as at 5. Each flattened: portion 5 of the member M is disposed between the extension 3 of an arm. 2 and an adjacent overlying portion land disposed through the extension. 3, the flattened portion 5' and said portion 4 is aclamping bolt (ii The portions of the bolt 6 disposed through the extension 3 and the portion 4: are insulated by the bushings or sleeves 7 and also by the washers S surrounding the'bolt G and positioned at opposite sides of the flattened portion v 9 denotes a clip through which one of the bolts 6 passes, said clip'beinginterposed between a flattened portion 5 of the member M and an insulating Washer 8 and in close contact with the portion 5 of the member M so that said clip 9 is in electrical connection with the member M,

' Patented Mar. '7', 922.

7) denotes a cable or conductor having one end portion in electrical connect-ion, as at 10, with the clip 9 and which cable 6 is associated in a conventional. manner with the reel It. The outer or tree end portion of the cable or cmiductor Z1 is provi .led with the hoolr 1.1. which is adapted to be engaged, as is well known, with the trolley wire T.

ll hen the trolley pole I is lowered into an. inoperative 13()Sll3l011,ll; is caused to eno'age from below the member M whereby the cable or conductor 2) is placed in electrical connection with the controller C. This is of particular advantage in view of the fact that when the cable or conductor 7) is in use, it .is unnecessary to employ any switches or other mechanism to ell'cct the desired. delivery of the current from. the wire T to the motor ot the. ligicomotire and also provides means whereby the travel. or the locon'iotive, with the use of the cable or con duct-or Z), is under control oil the controller (l. p

In order that an occupant oil. the locomotive will not be injured by contact with the member M or the trolley head II and the wheel V, I provide a protecting or guard plate Gr which is'secured to the inner faces of the portions 8 and extensions 3' and also the arms 2, said plate being of such dimensions as to reduce to a minimum the possibility of contact with the member M or the associated parts of the pole P when. the

wheel T is in. electrical contact with the member M.

By having the major portion oil. the member M substantially V-sbapcd in cross section, or more particularly that portion ot the member with which the wheel W contacts. is of importance in view of the fact that the flanges of the wheel will contact with. the side wills of the member M, as is particularly illustrated in Figure l, and whereby the requisite electrical connection between the wheel W and the member M is assured, With. the possibility oi such connection burning out or otherwise becoming ineffective substantially eliminated.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a safety trans for cable rcel and trolley pole switch constructcd in accordmnjce with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated and. it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several. parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. In combination with the controller of an electric locomotive and a feed line, a trolley pole carried by the locomotive and provided with a wheel in electrical connection with the controller, a contact member carried by the locomotive, and a flexible conductor electrically connected with the contact member and adapted to be electrically engaged with the teed line, the wheel oi the trolley pole being engaged with the contact member when the trolley pole is in inoperative position.

2. In combination with the controller ol an electric locomotive and a teed line, a trolls pole carried by the locomotive and provided with wheel in electrical connection with the controller, a contact member carried. by the locomotive, and a flexible conductor electrically connected with the contact member and adapted to be electrically engaged with the feed. line, the wheel of the trolley pole engaging the contact member from below when the pole is in an inoperative position.

In combination with the controller of an. electric locomotive and a feed line, a trolley pole carried by the locomotive and provided with a wheel in electrical. connection with the controller, a contact member carried by the locomotive, a flexible conductor electrically connected with the contact iii-ember and adapted to be electrically encaged with he feed line, the wheel of the trolley pole being engaged with the contact member when the trolley pole in inoperativc position, the portion of the contact member with which the wheel of the trollcy pole engages being substantially V- shaped in cross section.

l. In. combination with the controller of an electric locomotive and a feed line, a trolley pole carried by the locomotive and provided with a wl'ieel in electrical. connection with the controller, a contact member carried by the locomotive a flexible conductor electrically connected with the con tact member and adapted to be electrically ei'ie aced with the teed line, the wheel. of the trolley polebeinp; engaged with the contact member when the trolley pole is in. an. inoperative position, and aprotccting plate disposed over the contact member and the coactinp; poi ions of the trolley pole when the wheel is in engagement with the contact member.

In. testimony whereof I hereunto allix my signature.

WILLIAM THOS, JONES. 

